Electric switch



Aug. 30, 1927. 1,640,614

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yELECTRIC SWITCH Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFEIcE.

JOHN H. NELSON, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HARRY A. DOUGLAS, OF

BRONSON, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

application mea February 1s, 1927. serial No. 169,348.

My invention relates to electric switches and has Jfor one of its objects the provision of an improved form of switch contacting structure and for another of its objects the provision of a current conducting winding element so associated with the switch as to reduce the aggregate length of the winding element and switch and make the combination of the winding element and switch more 1o compact.

A switch structure realizing the rst object of my .invention comprises two l,spaced apart electric current conducting contacts placed abreast, a connector containing two electrically connected contacts, and a spring pressing these contacts outwardly from each other, said connector being mounted to move to bring its contacts into engagement with the first aforesaid contacts and out of connection therewith. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the connector is mounted to turn and is disposed in the zone of the rst contacts and the contacts of the connector are in telescoping relation, there being a spring pressing these contacts outwardly from each other'so as to be engageable with the irst aforesaid contacts to close the circuit that is provided therewith.

A switch structure realizing the second ob- :foject of my invention comprises an electric current conducting winding tubular in orm, spaced apart electric current conducting contacts placed abreast on opposite sides of the bore of said winding, and a connector inv the zone of said contacts and mounted to turn into engagement with the aforesaid contacts and out of connection therewith. In the preferred embodiment of this feature of my invention, the connector` is mounted to turn and is inclusive of the two electrically connected contacts in telescoping relation and the spring pressing these contacts outwardly from each other. A locking structureis desirably provided for controlling the position of said connector, this locking structure being` preferably key operated and, as I have employed the invention, serving to hold the connector in circuit opening adjustment, though the invention is not to be thus limited. f

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 illustrates a winding element in longitudinal section and the structure of the switch partially in section and partially in elevation; Fig. 2 is a front view of a part of the structure shown in Fig. l1; Fig'. 3 is a sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. t is a sectional view on line 4 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a -sectional view on line 5 5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6 6 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is an end view of a container for the switching mechanism and of a carrier for the contacts of a connector; Fig. 8 is an end view of the locking structure which has an element, a tumbler barrel, shaped to engage said carrier whereby the carrier may be turned to turn the connector; Fig. 9 is a sectional view on liney 9 9 of Fig. 1; Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing theconnector, the contact structure engageable by the connector, and the locking ystruct-ure in separated relation; Fig. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the dispo* sition of the container shown in Fig. 7; and Fig. 12 is a diagram illustrating the use of my invention in connection with the ignition system of an internal combustion engine.

The hollow current conducting element illustrated is inclusive of a windin 1 constituting the primary of an induction coil that is employed in a circuit serving to produce sparks in the cylinders of an internal combustion engine. Another winding 2 is illustrated which, in this instance, is secondary to the winding 1, this secondary winding being shown as being surrounded by the primary winding. The primary winding has one terminal grounded through a circuit interrupter 3 whose contacts are shunted by a condenser 4. The other terminal of the primary winding is grounded through a battery 6.- The seconary winding 2 also has one terminal grounded through the circuit interrupter 3, the other terminal of the winding 2 being connected with the revolving arm 7 of a distributor whose waiting contacts 8 are successively engaged by said arm, these waiting contacts being connected with the electrodes 9 of spark plugs or other gas igniting elements that are contained in the various cylinders of the internal combustion engine, indicated at 10, that is equipped with the ignition system.

The windings 1 and 2 are tubular, the bore of the inner winding having a cylindrical lining 11 of insulation. A magnetizable core 12 is shown disposed within said lining, this core extending to one end of the winding structure and terminating short of the other end of the winding structure to permit the switching mechanism to be received within the bore of the winding 2, as will hereinafter more fully appear. The winding 1 is surrounded by a jacket 13 o'f insulation. The two windings are faced at their ends by rings of insulation 14 and 15 which are inwardly turned at their peripheries to constitute annular flanges 14', l5' which surround and closely engage the jacket 13. A metallic jacket encases the winding structure, this metallic jacket having one cup shaped portion 16 and another cup shaped f portion 17, the skirts of these cup shaped portions being in lapping relation, as indicated at 18. The cup shaped portion 17 has a reduced forwardly extending continuation 19, the front end wall of the cup portion 19 being clamped between a ring 20 and the mounting panel 21 by means of the clamping screws 22. A locking guard, preferably'in n the form of a shell 23, is carried by the front end wall of the portion 19 and projects inwardly, the inner end of the shell 23 being in the zone of the ring 15. A tumbler l barrel 24 is mounted to turn in the shell 23, this tumbler barrel carrying tumblers 25 which are receivable at their ends inslots 26 formed in opposite sides of the shell 23. These tumblers are operable by a key 27, that is acceptable by the tumbler barrel, to be withdrawn from said slots when the key is inserted. Vhen the tumblers are thus' withdrawn, the tumbler barrel may be turned to a position in which the circuit of the coil 1 is either opened or closed, as'will more fully appear. Vhen the circuit is opened, `the key may be withdrawn to permit the tumblers to enter said slots, the tumblers then serving to lock the primary circuit in open adjustment, as will also more fully appear.

The switching' mechanismincludes a carrier 28, made of insulation, which has a slot,

formation 29 shaped correspondingly to the oblong inner end 24 of the tumbler barrel received in' the slot whereby this carrier ma be turned when the tumbler barrel is turne The carrier 28 is formed with a` reduced inner end 30 that is receivable within the cylindrical recess that is formed in the container 31 that is made of insulating material,

this container being receivable within theI container 32. As shown,.the container 32 is in the form of a shell which is square in cross section, the container 31 being correspondingly shaped and snugly received in said container 32. Two spaced apart electric current conducting contacts 33 and 34 serially included in the primary circuit are located abreast and are carried by the container 31, these contacts being of arcuate formation and having their inner faces curved to coincide with the circle of the cylindrical recess in container 31, these oontacts, said recess and the carrier 28 being coaxial. The extension 30 of the carrier 28 is formed with an opening 35 extending diametrically therethrough, this opening receiving the connector which is employed to connect the contacts 33 and 34 when the primary circuit is to be closed. This connector is preferably inclusive of two hollow cup shaped electrically connected contacts 36 and 37 that are in telescoping or sliding relation. A metallic coiled s ring 38 is surroundedby the contacts 36 an 37 and presses these contacts outwardl from each other so that they engage the cylindrical surface of the recess in the container 31 or the inner faces of the contacts 33 and 34, according to the position to which the carrier 28 is turned. The connector 36, 37, 38 'is thus disposed in .the zone of said contacts 33, 34 and turns in this zone to circuit openingor circuit closing position, according to t e osition to which the carrier 28 is turned. he wire leading from the contact 33 to the primary winding and the wire leading from the contact 34 to the circuit interrupter are continued through a passage 39 that is formed in the core 12. The contacts 36, 37 of the connector move transversely to the axis of the windings instead of along this axis, thereby reducing the axial length of the structure and permitting such a disposition of the contacts 33 and 34 as further to reduce the axial length of the structure.

The inner end of the locking structure is snugly received within the front end of the lining 11 to guard the switch from unwarranted access. The switch is further guarded by means of the larger, outer end of the carrier 28.

The pair of contacts 33 and 34 and the connector 36, 37, 38 lare relatively rotatable, and either said pair of contacts or said connector may be turned with respect to a point in space, and the claims are drawn with this understanding. l

Changes may be made without departing from the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Thecombination withan electric cur- ,rent conducting4 winding tubular in form;

spaced apart electric current conducting contacts placed abreast on opposite sides of the bore of said winding; a connector in the zone of said contacts and comprising two electrically connected contacts in telescoping relation and a spring pressing these contacts outwardly from each other, said connector being adapted to turn with respect to and into engagement with the aforesaid. contacts and out of connection therewith; and a locking structure in controlling relation to said connector.

2, The combination with an electric curlOU rent conduct-ing winding tubular in form; spaced apart electric current conducting contacts placed abreast on opposite sides of the bore oflsaid winding; a connector in the zone of said contacts and comprising two electrically connected contacts and a spring pressing ,these contact-s outwardly from each other, vsaid connector being adapted to turn with respect to and into engagement with the aforesaid contacts and l out of connection therewith; and alocking structure in controlling relation to said connectors.

3. The combination with an electric current conducting winding tubular in form; spacedO apart electric current conducting contacts placed abreast on opposite sides of the bore of said winding; and a connector in the zone of said contacts and comprising two electrically connected contacts and a spring. pressing these contacts outwardly vconnector being adapted to turn with respect to and into engagement with the' aforesaid contacts and out ot' connection therewith.

5. In an electric switch, the combination with two spaced apart electric current conducting contacts placed abreast; of a connector comprising two electrically connected contacts and a spring pressing these contacts outwardly from each other, said connector being movable with respect tosaid contacts to bring its contacts into engagement with the first aforesaid contacts and out of connection therewith.

G. ln an electric switch, the combination with two spaced apart electric `current conducting contacts placed abreast; of a connector disposed in the Zone of said contacts and comprising two electrically connected contacts and a spring pressing these contacts outwardly from each other,'said connector being rotatable with respect to said contacts'to bring'its contacts into engagement with the first aforesaid contacts and out of connection therewith.

7. ln' an electric switch, the combination with two spaced apart electric current conducting contacts placed abreast; of a connector comprising two electrically connected contacts in telescoping relation and a spring pressing these contacts outwardly from each other, said connector being movable with respect to said contacts to bring its contacts into engagement with the rst aforesaid contacts and out of connection therewith.

8. lin an'electric switch, the combination witlrtwo spaced'apart electric current conductingcontacts placed abreast; of a (mnnector disposed in the zone of said contacts and comprising two electrically connected contacts in .telescoping relation and a spring pressing these contacts outwardly from each other, said connector being rotatable with respect to said contacts to bring its contacts into engagement with the first aforesaid contacts and out of connection therewith.

In witness whereof,'l hereunto subscribe my name.

JOHN H. NELSUN. 

